The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-09-08
THE LITTLE AFFAIR Ar WHEELING.

Nathing could be more absurd than
TO see the governors of West Virginia
and Ohio wrsngling before tumultu-
0ns and excited assemblage on the
Issues Of the war twenty-five years and
more since the last hostile gun was
fired. Such twaddlo now pr0V0kea
ridlcule In a bar room debate, for be ~
understood 1t Is not to throw light on
any practical question or make plain
disputed facts, but Is merelyR q species
of TeeriminStiOn to enhance the import.
ance Of the takers, and win Dlaudits by
saying snappy and aggravating things.
But there was something behind the
angry discussion OF Foraker and Will
son. The citizens of Wheeling, irrespec.
tive of politics, including ex Union and
ex Confederate veterans, had made
most elaborate arrangements, spending
their money pr0digally, to make the
reunion success. 1t was success IN
every sense Of the word, until the wild
ranter Foraker flung to mixed crowd,
representing all parties, a choice col
lection of partisan insults, oharaoteriz.
Ing President Cleveland as New York
cOpperhead and Secretary EndicOtt, a
Massachusetts, smugwump. This Is In line
with Forsker's recent efforts denOunC-
ing Cleveland as q bringing and sneak
ing c0wsrd. The wild ass of Ohio never
puts bride on his own tongue when
be thinks an insult or blackguard cpl
thet will win him the approving yells
of crow as Fabid as he Is. His speech
In the afternoon preceding the night
discussion was insulting to Democrats
aud malici0usly and falsely uDjust to
he president. Mr.. Hayes and Governor
Beaver made speeches on the same Occa-
sion, kindly In their tone and which
tended to cement the good feeling so
appropriate to the occasion. In fact the
dignity and manliness with which our
Pennsylvania governor bore himself
was In marked end venerable contrast
to the demag0guelsm and partisan bit
terness with which Foraker opened the
ball. Governor Wilson was perhaps
foolish In taking up the challenge, and
the discussion that followed was dis
graceful to all concerned, considering
the occasion that brought the people
together. OF course the crowds had
become excited In the meantime, and
the leaders, whose duty 1t was to have
calmed them by talking sense, did their
best to aggravate them by talking n0n-
sense.
The banner incident is a little rough
on the Grand Army at this time, when
some of Its leaders are on trial at the
bar of public opinion for insulting the
president and advising violence tOward
him. They don't seem to realize that
there is plenty OF crazy material lying
around loose out of which Guiteau
can be readily turned out. The three
and nine months soldiers, but bowling
politicians and remOrseless pension
grabbeTs, who devised the Insult Of
trailing the American flag in the dust
and mud when passing the presidential
banner and filling the air with their
curses and maledietiOns, did smart
stroke of business as they thought, but
we don't see how 1t Is going to advant.
age the Grand Army CT promote pension
legislation, the great aims supposed to
be In view. There Is ample evidence
that the people don't take kindly to In
suits recklessly and malici0usly flung
at their chief magistrate, especially In
view of the fact that these insults have
beyond all dispute, clearly and unde
niably, their prompting partly In par
tisan malice and partly In the vindlc
tiveness of disappointed raiders on the
public treasury, who have been prevent |
ed from achieving their objects by |
President CleVeland's courageous and
patriotic VetOes of fraudulent and scand- |
aIOus pension bills.
The incident should also be warning
to the real veterans OF the Grand Army, |
who appreciate the benefits such an Or
ganizatlOn is capable of, that they
should muzzis the silly pated partiz D |
ranters and mere camp followers, VINO,
under a very lax system Of admissions,
obtained membership. Compare the a0
tiOn of the Veteran Legion and the
Grand Army pOliticians--as most people
are now doiDg-and we can measure the
distance that separates the real soldier
and gentlemen from the pretender.-
pittsburgh Post.